What career's on the cards for your DC?

[TenSheds]

Friday question: do your DC have career plans/aspirations, and where do you think they'll actually end up?

Apart from the obviously vocational (med/vet) sphere, the majority of young people DD knows don't really know what they want to do, yet educational choices seem to want to set them on a path from a fairly early stage. She herself has no idea, but she's very academic and outgoing. I think she'll go into either academia/teaching, or research/popular broadcasting, in a Horrible Histories or QI Elves style.

There are lots of MN discussions about the merits of the educational system and various degrees, and where non-specific courses can take you (law, business, finance), but what do you actually think will happen, all things being equal?

Please don't let this thread develop into debate - it's just a bit of fun!

DS doing Econ at uni atm

I think he will end up with his own businesses or maybe in venture capital. He is quite mercenary and not a worker bee. I don’t think he will fit the standard financial mould if there is one.

DD is about to start a Geo degree

I can see her in an office job in London, perhaps for a not for profit organisation. She’s a team player and would like the security and family aspect of working for a large organisation

They are very different from each other!

My son is only 13 but for quite a long time he has been determined that he will be a Forensic Palaeontologist!

Ones currently working in nhs on day release to university will hopefully then get funding to continue to do full degree. It will have taken longer however will come out with a degree, no debt and is currently earning just above nmw. Its hard work as works full time plus has to study (and travel to study).
One wants to go into an apprenticeship in some sort of science background as is 'fed up of writing and classrooms' (also I suspect seeing older siblings route has an insight into something other than uni).
One has no idea is the most academic of 3 but got time as doing gcses. Loves history and biology so I can see those routes both a possibility. Is also good with maths so I could see a biology/research career. Says doesn't want to get into debt at university if possible but it will depend on chosen career and apprenticeship options available in a couple of years (hopefully a new government will expand the current provision).

DS wants to be a sound engineer, whilst maintaining his ultimate goal which is for his band to get famous 😁

DD wants to be a volcanologist … currently studying geography at uni and is researching further courses to take once she’s finished undergrad. She wants to travel and hopes the career may take her to some far flung places whilst studying par of the worlds make up that she finds particularly interesting.

DS1 Music Therapist (paediatric hospice) he is a classically trained singer and has crossed into art based therapy - looking to complete a PhD.
DS2 Neurologist (paediatric) - something he always wanted to do.
DD Performance Designer (set designer for theatre)

DS doing MFL, about to go in to final year. Intending to do his PGCE to teach MFL.

DD did English lit at uni (graduated two years ago) and works in a library. For various reasons a low-key role is suiting her just now, but I think she may do a further qual and become a librarian. She has also toyed with publishing which would also mean a master's - she could do that at our local uni so it is still a possibility.

DS2 has one more year of his integrated masters in biological sciences - wants to maybe go into research which would be great. What he would really love would be to become an international athlete in his chosen sport.

DD studied History and is now working at the National Archives in Kew. However, this wasn't a long-term goal. She happily stumbled upon the role.

I have 2 DS age 20 and 17. The 20yo is at uni doing econ & stats, and has an actuarial internship lined up for the summer, so fingers crossed that it'll go well and set him on that path. The 17yo is planning for civil engineering, though would admit to not knowing much about it. He has some work experience lined up, so hopefully it will enlighten him before he applies to uni later in the year.

DS1 is doing a Fine Art degree (end of first year) and just completed a 2 week placement in a large financial business with their marketing/ social media/ design team which he loved. And was brilliant at. So that's his new career idea! He has also toyed with teaching, professional art practice, and garden design! He would prob be good at all of them!
DS2 is doing medicine (end of first year). Ultimately wants to do neurosurgery. But who knows!!
DD wants to be a pro footballer. Or work in conservation/ environmental science type work. She could never sit in an office!

DD is doing social policy and wants a civil service analyst job. She's got alternative plans if she's not successful straight after graduation. I think she'll do a "honourable" job like my DH. I suspect I'll need to help her out more moneywise than my other DC who have chased the money. Hoping someone will have her otherwise I can see her ending up on the news glued to a fossil fuel HQ front door or sitting atop an immigration van.

I love these threads as you never get the ‘my DS collects trolleys at Asda’ people replying 🤣

It’s quite outing so I’ll be vague, my eldest DS is self taught and freelance doing IT systems for an international sport. He will never be rich but he travels the world business class all expenses paid.
DD was covid year and got barely any GCSEs, she’s a manager in hospitality, the youngest in the region, and earns more than I do.
My youngest DS has SEN and is a self taught game designer, specifically an environment artist, so this is what he hopes to do.

I'm quite curious really about where mine will end up. Both are potentially looking for careers that will support them alongside music. DD studying English is interested in publishing but I can imagine a huge range of things she could do; she's a good singer but we just don't know how far she should try to take that. She also really loves being outdoors ...

DS studying maths has been heard to express an interest in more lucrative careers; but his other passion is composing, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he went into something high paid only for a few years to get himself started.

But I could be proved completely wrong!

DS studies history and is aiming for sports writing or broadcasting. He's already had several articles published so here's hoping.

Not sure what the back up plan is.

DS1 is currently doing a funded PhD in Dinosaur Studies (well, obviously not the actual title, but in the broad area thereof). DD has been a lifeguard, travelled a bit and is currently turning out to be very good at something I'd never heard of in the tax line, but will be off to do an LLM in the autumn.

DS2 graduates next month and ideally would like to work in a library, although how far he's got in his pursuit of this, I'm not sure...

(Eta as to DD's actual career intentions, no idea - she doesn't think she actually wants to be a lawyer).

One has graduated and is working in materials manufacture and testing.

The other one is having a working year before uni and is already earning way more than me coding.

Loving the forensic palaeontologist and volcanologist career ambitions (although I would be a bit worried about volcanology given it can be a bit risky).

DD19 failed all her GCSE's (every single one), started an apprenticeship at 16 and got her maths&english and level 3 customer service. She worked in a customer service role until nearly 18, did three months in Aiya Napa and came home to a £26k customer service role (honestly, we were gobsmacked too). She's just applied for the police.

DD13 wants to go into hairdressing, via apprenticeship route.

DD2 wants to be a dinosaur, I think.

Thanks for joining in everyone. I felt I was in a bit of a bubble and needed to hear from a wider sample. This has been really encouraging, what an interesting and diverse range. I'm so pleased to see DC following their hearts. Good luck to them all.

@SandyIrving your DD wants to do the job I currently do! It's a great choice, I love it. If you search you'll find a few helpful threads on mumsnet or reddit about the application process. Good luck to her.

I hesitated to read this thread because it could have gone so many different ways. It’s been a joy. Thanks, everyone and special thanks to OP

My DS did economics and now works in green energy and loves it.

He tells all his friends he's trying to stop climate change. He started out university going on with the whole IBD and finance crowd and while he'd be open to a career in green finance he's very happy at his current job.

She doesn’t need an ma to work in publishing. Working in a library is a great start. Check out The Bookseller for entry level jobs etc

Both of mine have followed their degree subject, one is well on the way, the other has head in the clouds quite frankly but I humour her that it will pay eventually (it might but not holding breath. McDonald's is likely to be paying the bills for some time )

Id like to hear some replies to this. When discussing careers with your DC how often do you tell them to look at pay and say "chose what pays the most"